Good harvest for farmers

Area farmers are at the end of this year’s harvest season with some reporting good yields, while a few did not fare so well.

“We are just finishing the harvest right now. All the dry-land and irrigated grain and barley was cut a few weeks back,” said Lauritz Smith, water master for Twin Lakes Irrigation Company.

“Generally speaking, grain growers in our county reported an average to above-average yield on irrigated ground. Fall wheat and hay on dry land did not do so good and some fields weren’t even cut. All those crops were hurt by hot, windy and dry conditions all spring and summer.”

Smith said he thinks the overall crop harvest in Franklin County was better than anticipated at the beginning of summer.

“Even though it was as dry as it was, we managed to stretch our irrigation supplies and I think almost everyone had enough water to finish third crop hay and corn,” he said.

“First crop hay in some locations was hurt by a spring frost that stunted the crop. But second and third crop hay seemed to be good. It looks like most of the ears in both silage and sweet corn filled out and that’s good. Barley and wheat look to be good, as well,” he said.

This story is sponsored by PHS 1957 Reunion.

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